Chrysanthemum plant named Coral Pomona

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Coral Pomona particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; coral-bronze ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 125 to 135 mm. when fully opened when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum; photoperiodic response to short days of 54 to 62 days; plant height of 20 to 30 cm. when grown as a pinched pot mum; recommended both as disbudded and spray pot mum; and spreading and prolific branching pattern, with 5 to 6 breaks per plant after pinch.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Coral Pomona.

Coral Pomona, identified as 81-893E19, is a product of a mutation induction program which had the objective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars that would expand the color range of an existing cultivar while retaining all other traits.

Coral Pomona was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in May 1987 in comparative flower trails of selections of radiation sports originating from irradiation of the cultivar identified as Pomona, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,802. One selection in these flower trails was identified by the code number 6121, which was selected in May 1987 as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants of Pomona which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1750 rads. Repeated flowerings of selection 6121, which was originally selected as a bronze color mutation, showed a mixture of plants with bronze and a purple ray floret color, the purple most likely being the parent cultivar Pomona. One plant with the bronze ray floret color was selected in January 1988 and given the code number 4027 (81-893E19), and subsequently the cultivar name Coral Pomona.

The first act of asexual reproductiion of Coral Pomona was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March 1988 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Coral Pomona are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Coral Pomona has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Coral Pomona, which, in combination, distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. Coral-bronze ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 125 to 135 mm. when fully opened, when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum.

5. Photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 54 to 62 days.

6. Plant height, with 15 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 1 to 3 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20 to 30 cm. when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm. pot.

7. Recommended both as disbudded and spray pot mum.

8. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific, each plant having 5 to 6 laterals after pinch.

The accompanying photographic drawing is a color photograph of Coral Pomona grown as a pinched spray pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm. pot.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Coral Pomona is the parent cultivar Pomona. The most significant difference between Pomona and Coral Pomona is the ray floret color, with the color of Coral Pomona being a coral bronze, while the color of Pomona is red-purple. In addition, Coral Pomona has a slower flowering response to short days than Pomona by 3 to 6 days, and has more disc florets when compared to Pomona.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The actual color or Coral Pomona is not represented in the R.H.S. Colour Chart, and the values given are those believed to be closest to the actual color of Coral Pomona. The color values were determined on plant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Claif. on June 15, 1990.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Coral Pomona.

Commercial.--Decorative disbud and spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--125 to 135 mm. when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Coral-bronze.

Colors.--Upper surface: 54C, slightly overlaid with 184D. Under surface: Closest to 179D.

Shape.--Flat, oblong.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14B.

Color (immature).--14B, overlaid with 144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; few disc florets; moderate pollen.

Gyneocium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--20 to 30 cm. when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15 cm. pot with 15 long days after direct sticking of unrooted cuttings and 1 to 3 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 5 to 6 laterals after pinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Lobed and slightly serrated (see photograph). 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Coral Pomona, as described and illustrated. 